Adding a Copy Step
In SAP Analytics Cloud, copy steps allow you to copy data from one set of members to another, specifying options for
filters and aggregation.
Context
For example, copy steps can be used in the following cases:
Create a data action before adding a copy step to it.
Note
When choosing members or measures for the copy step settings, you can use a parameter. Parameters let you create prompts, or update several
values in your data action from one place. Hover over or select Parameter in the member selector to see
which ones are available. To learn how to create parameters, see Add Parameters to Your Data Actions and Multi Actions.
Currency conversion is not supported for copy steps and all values are copied
without currency conversion.
Procedure
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In the data action page, select (Add Copy
Step).
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Type a Name and Description for the
step.
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Filter the data that will be copied as required.
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Select Add Filter and choose the structure (that is, the dimension or measure) to filter.
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Select the members or measures whose data you want to include, or select Parameters and choose a parameter. Select
OK.
Note
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The version dimension is only available in the Filter section of a copy step. You can filter it to set a fixed
source version, for example, if you want to copy data from the forecast version to the target version. If
you do not filter the version dimension, data will be copied within the target version only. (The
TargetVersion parameter sets this version.)
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If you add a filter to an account dimension with multiple hierarchies, you will need to use the same
hierarchy for source members in copy rules using that account.
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Continue adding filters on other structures as required. To remove a filter, select the icon beside it.
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In the Aggregate To area, add any dimension where you want to override the default disaggregation behavior.
For dimensions that are not included in the Aggregate To area, the
copied data will match the distribution of the source data by default. This
behavior is similar to copying and pasting a cell with the Paste
details option enabled. For more information, see Copying and Pasting Cell Values.
For example, if you want to remove the distribution of data to different customers for privacy reasons, you can aggregate to the unassigned
member of the customer dimension. In this case, all of the copied data is booked to the unassigned member.
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Select Add Dimension and choose a dimension from
the list.
Note
The dimensions that you add to this list cannot be added in the
Filters or
Copy
Rule sections of the step.
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Choose a single leaf member for this dimension that will receive the value copied during
this data action step, or select Parameter and
choose a parameter. Select OK.
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Repeat these steps to add aggregation members for other dimensions as
necessary.
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Add copy rules to specify source and target members or measures for the copy step.
Depending on the Filter and Aggregate To settings, you may not need to add copy rules. For
example, if you want to copy the 2018 forecast to a target version, you only need to filter the step to the forecast version
and 2018. If you want to copy the 2018 forecast to 2018 and 2019 in the target version, a copy rule is required.
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Select Add Copy Rule.
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For the new rule, choose a dimension or select Measures from the Measures/Dimension
list.
(For data actions based on classic account models, this list is called Dimension.)
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In the From column, select or start typing
directly in the text field.
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Choose a source member or measure from the list, or select Parameter and choose a parameter. Select
OK.
This source data, filtered according to your settings, will be copied to the targets that
you specify.
You can select measures and accounts that are calculated or that use exception aggregation, but there are some restrictions for these types
of source values. See Copy Steps with Calculations and Exception Aggregation for more information.
If your account dimension has multiple hierarchies, copy rules must use the same hierarchy for the source member of the account dimension.
You can use different hierarchies for the target members.
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In the To column, select or start typing
directly in the text field.
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Choose one or more leaf members or measures from the list, or select Parameter and choose a parameter. Select
OK.
The source value will be copied to each of these members.
Note
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If you're copying across measures, keep in mind the value range and number of decimal places for your source and target measures. If
you're using a measure parameter for the source or target, it's recommended to specify the data types
where possible. For details, see Limits on Value Ranges and Decimal Places for Measures.
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For copy rules based on the date dimension, you can select one or more non-leaf members at the same hierarchy level as the source member
(for example, Q1 to Q2, or 2018 to 2018 and 2019).
For accounts that use exception aggregation, copying data along the
exception aggregation dimension is supported.
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Select (Finish
Editing) to complete the rule.
If there are any problems with the rule, a warning icon appears next
to it. Hover over the icon to see more information.
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To edit the rule, select
(Edit). To delete it, select (Delete).
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Continue to add copy rules as required, by selecting Add
Copy Rule, or by selecting
(Duplicate) next to an existing copy
rule.
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To switch between appending or overwriting data, select next
to Options and choose a setting from the Write
Mode list:
- Append (default): The copied data will be added
to any existing data for the target members.
- Overwrite: Existing data for the target members
will be overwritten by the copied data.
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Select Save Data Action.
Results
The copy step is added to the data action. You can continue
to add, manage, and reorder steps as required.